Interchangeable shoe heels



June 12, 195] T. GILMOUR I INTERCHANGEABLE SHOE HEELS Filed Aug. 24,1948 IINVENTOR.

Patented June 12, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,556,842;INTERCHANGEABLE SHOE HEELS Thomas Gilmour, Brooklyn, N. Y. ApplicationAugust 24, 1948, serial No.'45,869

zoiaims. (01.3642) This invention relates to new and useful improvementsin interchangeable shoe heels. This application presents certainimprovements in the subject matter of my earlier application, Serial No.33,085, filed June 15, 1948, for Interchangeable Heels and HeelSections, now Patent Number 2,542,078, dated February 20, 1951.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved heelconstruction of the type including a heel base and a readily applicableand replaceable lower heel portion below called the wear heel and alsoof the type wherein the heel base and the wear heel are provided withformations and/or additions for interlocking.

A further object is to provide a heel construction as above in which,with said formations inclusive of ribs of dovetail cross-section, thereis provided a novel and valuable means for preventing any sliding of arib on a wear heel relative to a rib on the heel base.

As will be appreciated from what follows, the present invention ischaracterized by simplicity of construction, reliability of theinterlocking means and of the anti-shift means, and a combination ofparts which may be manufactured and sold at a low price.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a shoe provided with a heelstructure made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof, with the wear heel omitted.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the wear heel.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view looking at the breast of the heelstructure of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the gate plates in theiropen position. 7

In accordance with the present invention, there is shown a shoe 30permanently carrying a heel base 3|. At its bottom the heel base has aplurality of straight fore and aft extending depending ribs 32alternating with grooves 33, said ribs and grooves being of dovetailcross-section. The wear heel 34 is provided with a plurality of likeshaped and matchingly arranged ribs 35 and grooves 36. Said wear heel,for a reason to be appreciated in a moment, is for being slidingly 2mounted on the heel base 3| by applying the rounded end of the wear heelto the breast 30 of the heel base.

The anti-shift means for this heel structure is comprised in part of aT-head rib enlargement 31 at the lateral center of the breast of thewear heel, and a matching recess 38 at the breast of the heel base, thisrecess at opposite ends extending into the two central ribs 32 of thewear heel. The arrangement may be reversed; that is, the enlargement 31or any othersuitable enlargement corresponding in function to theenlargement 31 may be on the heel base, and such a recess as the recess38 or any other recess for suitably coacting with such enlargement maybe in the wear heel. Said anti-shift means further includes a provisionfor preventing shift of the wear heel in a forward direction. I

The means for preventing forward shift of the wear heel 34 comprises apair of gate plates 83 and 84, these pivotally mounted near oppositesides of the breast of the heel base 3| on the centrally verticallyarranged length of a staple 85 driven at its two end prongs into theheel base. The plates 83 and 84, following addition of the wear heel 34to the heel base 3|, are overlapped as shown, and connected by cradlinga finger extension 86 on the free end of the plate 84 in a hook 83struck up from the plate 83. The plates 83 and 84 are downwardlyprojected along portions of their lengths, so that bottom portions ofsaid plates will lie in front of the breast of the wear heel 34 when theplates are interconnected at the hook 83 While I have illustrated anddescribed the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to beunderstood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction hereindisclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modificationscoming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a shoe having a renewable wear heel slidably mounted on a heelbase for disengagement from the heel base by sliding movement in aforward direction, means on the heel base for restraining the wear heelagainst sliding movements in a forward direction relative to the heelbase, comprising opposed overlapping plates extended along the breast ofthe heel base, said plates having their outer ends pivoted to the breastof the heel base at the outer edges thereof,

and means releasably connecting said plates to-,

gether inward of their pivoted outer ends, said plates inward of theirpivoted outer ends havin depending bottom portions projecting across thebreast of the wear heel.

2. In a, shoe having a renewable wear heel slidably mounted on a heelbase for disengagement from the heel base by sliding movement in aforward direction, means on the heel base for restraining the wear heelagainst sliding movements in a forward. direction relative. to the heelbase, comprising opposed overlapping plates extended along the breast ofthe heel base, said plates having their outer ends pivoted to the breastof the heel base at the outeredges, thereof,, and means releasablyconnecting said plates together inward of their pivoted outer ends, saidplates inward of their pivotedouter ends having depending bottomportions projecting across the breast of the wear heel, said connectingmeans comprising a hook formed on one of said plates, and a fingerextension on the free end of the other of said plates and engaged insaid hook.

THOMAS GILMOUR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file. of.this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 607,188 McDonald July 12, 1898 1,831,268 Starks Nov.10, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 363,379 Italy Oct. 4, 1938462,878 France Dec. 3, 1913

